Hyderabad: Buffalo is prodded with spears, battered in fest'

Hyderabad: Another traditional ritual that involves torturing an animal has attracted the attention of animal rights groups that have lodged a complaint against it. Peddamma Panduga is of recent origin and held in Muttireddypally, Kodair mandal in Nagarkurnool district.

As part of the ritual which began 25 years ago, villagers take out a procession with a buffalo, beating it with sticks and prodding it with sharp arrows and spears. The same night they will batter the animal to death as a sacrifice to Goddess Peddamma.

This barbaric ritual is a violation of Section 11 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and a violation of Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code.
A witness to this ritual informed the city-based animal welfare organisation People for Animals, which took the complaint to the Nagarkurnool collector and mandal revenue officer, pleading that the ritual be stopped from taking place on Saturday.

Revellers hide sacrificial buffalo
Mr C Krishnaiah, mandal revenue officer, Kodair, told this newspaper that Peddamma Panduga is celebrated in four villages in Nagarkurnool. “Throughout the year a male buffalo is selected by the villagers and worshipped like a God is fed and well taken care of.

In 2014, the selected buffalo damaged the crops by entering the fields; however, it was untouched and considered a blessing. But on the day of the festival, as part of the ritual, they kill the animal as a sacrifice for the goddess.The buffalo is part of a massive procession, and is killed before the Peddamma idol.”

Mr Krishnaiah said that the villagers were tipped off about his visit and the animal was transported to an unknown location. The Kodair police and the MRO's office picked up 15 villagers as preventive detention. No case has been booked.

Inspector Mohammad Shafi of the Kodair police added that villagers who appeared before the police station were warned not to torture or kill the animal.
“The celebrations can continue without involving the buffalo. The team is still searching for the animal. Once it is found, it will be taken to the police station and then to a rescue home,”he said.